Automatic switch for slaughterhouse and meat packer rails

ABSTRACT

A pair of rail switch sections supported for alternate movement into and out of operative position with each initially moving in an upward inclined direction upon initial shifting from its operative position and thereafter being swung to an out-of-theway position, while one switch rail section is being raised out of initial operative position and then swung to an inoperative position the other switch rail section is being swung in the same direction toward a position elevated slightly above its operative position and then lowered into final operative position.

United States Patent 1 Bedford AUTOMATIC SWITCH FOR SLAUGHTERHOUSE ANDMEAT PACKER RAILS [76] Inventor: B e ryl A. Redford, 701 HurlingameAvenue, Redwood City, Calif. 94063 221' Filed: July 28,1971 21 Appl.No.: 166,695

[52] US. Cl. 104/103, 104/130 [51] Int. Cl E01b 25/26 [58] Field ofSearch 104/96, 100, 101, l04/l03,130, 131

References Cited r UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,746,397 5/1956 Le Fiell104/101 1,750,802 3/1930 Haferkorn 104/100 104/130 3,661,091 5/1972Noble' June 19, 1973 Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza AssistantExaminer-D. W. Keen Attorney-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jacobson[57] ABSTRACT A pair of rail switch sections supported for alternatemovement into and out of operative position with each initially movingin an upward inclined direction upon initial shifting from its operativeposition and thereafter being swung to an out-of-the-way position, whileone switch rail section is being raised out of initial operativeposition and then swung to an inoperative position the other switch railsection is being swung in the same direction toward a position elevatedslightly above its operative position and then lowered into finaloperative position.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented June 19, 1973 2 Shoots-Sheet 1Fig.1

Beryl A. Redford Patented June 19, 1973 3,739,727

2 Shoots-Sheet 2 Beryl A. Bed/0rd AUTOMATIC SWITCH FOR SLAUGI-ITIERHOUSEAND MEAT PACKER RAILS The switch of the instant invention has beendesigned to provide a switch mechanism including a pair of switch railsections that may be precisely guided into and out of operativepositions. The switch is constructed in a manner whereby its switch railsections are interconnected and inversely shifted between operative andinoperative positions by means of an elongated bell crank or walkingbeam, as is conventional in many similar switch mechanisms such as thosedisclosed in U. S. Pat. Nos. 2,746,397, dated May 22, 1956 and3,503,336, dated March 31, 1970. However, the switch of the instantinvention does not include switch rail sections mounted solely forswinging movement about fixed axes of rotation. Instead, the switch railsections of the instant invention are mounted for both axial shiftingand angular displacement relative to the axes of rotation thereof andthe axes of rotation thereof are inclined in a manner such that theswitch rail sections complete their movement into operative positions bybeing lowered while in horizontal position along a path slightlyinclined relative to the vertical.

The main object of this invention is to provide an overhead track switchincluding inversely shiftable switch rail sections which may beprecisely shifted into and out of operative position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switch assembly whoseswitch rail sections are operatively supported for shifting betweenoperative and inoperative positions in a manner such that the length ofthe switch rail sections may be maintained at a minimum so as todecrease the unsupported length of the switch rail sections and affordmore precise guiding of the rail sections during their movement betweenthe operative and inoperative positions.

A further object is to provide a track switch which may be automaticallythrown when a trolley is approaching along two of the associated tracksections.

Another object is to provide a track switch including a pair of swingsections whose free ends are closely spaced to prevent derailment of atrolley therebetween.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a switch for overheadtracks constructed in a manner whereby the shiftable switch railsections thereof may be shifted between their operative and inoperativepositions with a minimum clearance requirement.

Another important object of this invention is to provide an automaticswitch constructed in a manner whereby the free swinging ends of theswitch rail sections thereof may be precisely mated with the associatedstationary rail end as the switch rail sections are swung to theiroperative positions.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein isto provide an automatic switch assembly which will conform toconventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy touse so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, longlasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof,

wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the rail switchassembly of the instant invention with the straight and curved switchrail sections thereof disposed in operative and inoperative positions,respectively;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the assembly illustrated in FIG. itas seen from the side of FIG. ll;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially uponthe plane indicated by the section line 3-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the switch assembly with the straightswitch rail section in the closed operative position and the curved railsection in the inoperative position; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 4 but illustrating thecurved rail section in the operative position and the straight railsection in the inoperative position.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings and to FIGS. 41 and 5specifically, the numeral 10 generally designates the switch assembly ofthe instant invention which is operatively associated with both a maintstraight rail 12 and a curved spur rail I4. Any suitable means (notshown) may be utilized to support the rails 12 and M in operativeassociation. Further, the switch assembly 10 includes a rigid invertedU-shaped yoke 16 including a pair of generally parallel upstanding legs1% and 20 interconnected at their upper ends by means of an integralbight portion 22. Suitable mounting and anchoring flanges 24 are securedbetween the legs I8 and 20 and the rails 12 and Ml whereby the yoke 16is rigidly supported from the rails 12 and 14 and also serves to bracethe adjacent free end of the rail 14 from the rail 12.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIGS. 2 and 4 of thedrawings, it may be seen that an upstanding but slightly inclinedsupport sleeve 26 is supported from the free end of the rail 14 and thatthe rail 12 includes first and second longitudinally spaced railelements 28 and 30 with adjacent ends of the rail elements beingsimilarly cut on the bias and having a second support sleeve 32 weldedtherebetween. It will also be noted that the end of the rail element 30'adjacent the rail element 28 has an upwardly opening notch or windowformed therein.

A straight switch rail section 36 is provided for the rail 12 and acurved switch rail section 3% is provided for the rail M. The railsections 36 and 38 include depending and inclined supporting shankportions M9 and d2 axially shiftable and rotatably received in thesupport sleeves 32 and 26, respectively. Also, each of the sleeves isprovided with a lower end guide slot 41d through which a radial pin 46carried by the corresponding shank portion extends. Each of the pins 46is snugly and guidingly received in the corresponding slot 4d and itwill be seen that the slots 44 extend longitudinally of the supportsleeves 26 and 32 and include substantially straight lower end portionsand curved upper end portions. Accordingly, initial lowering of eachshank portion 410 and 42 causes angular displacement of that shankportion because of the camming action between the corresponding pin 4%and associated slot I 44. Thereafter, after the shank portion has beenangularly displaced generally 25, the shank portion is free to drop toits lower limit position independent of angular displacement and in adirection paralleling the corresponding support sleeve.

The central portion of a bell crank or walking beam 50 is pivotallysupported from the bight portion 22 by means of a suitable pivotfastener and an adjustable length connecting rod 54 is connected to oneend of the walking beam 50 by means of a universal socket connection andthe other lower end of the connecting rod 54 is connected to the outerend of the pin 46 of the shank portion 42. Further, a second connectingrod 56 is connected at its upper end to the other end portion of thebell crank or walking beam 50 while its lower end is connected to thepin 46 of the shank portion 40 by means of a universal socketconnection. Still further, the leg 18 of the yoke 16 includes anoutstanding mount portion 58 to whose outer end a weight arm 60 ispivotaliy secured for oscillation about a horizontal axis and the weightarm is inclined and includes a weight 62 at its upper end. Further, acrank arm 64 is carried by the weight arm 60 and the outer end of thecrank arm 64 is connected to the end of the bell crank or walking beam50 to which the connecting link or rod 56 is secured by means of aconnecting link 65, the weight arm 60 being swingable between theposition thereof illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings and the positionthereof illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings which positions definelimit positions of oscillation of the weight arm as determined bymovement of the rail sections 36 and 38 into their operative positions.

In operation, it may be seen from a comparison of FIGS. 4 and 5 of thedrawings that each of the rail sections 36 and 38 may be swung intoposition with the free end thereof seated in the corresponding end ofthe notch or window 34. Further, positioning tabs 70 are secured toopposite sides of the rail element 28 and project into the corner of thenotch or window 34 which receives a lower portion of the free ends ofthe rail sections 36 and 38. Also, should a trolley approach the railelement 28 from either the section 30 or the rail 14 and the switchassembly be in the wrong position, contact of the wheels of the trolleywith either the rail section 36 or the rail section 38 will cause thatrail section to be cammed to the closed position.

In order to operate the switch assembly 10, any suitable means may beoperatively connected to the bell crank or walking beam 50 in order thatthe latter may be oscillated between the limit positions thereofillustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings.

Assuming that the rail sections 36 and 38 are disposed thereofillustrated in FIG. 4) of the drawings, a trolley moving along the railelement 28 twoard the rail element 30 moves between these two railelements on the switch rail section 36 which is seated in the window ornotch 34. However, should it be desired for a trolley moving along therail 12 to be switched onto the rail 14, the bell crank 50 is oscillatedfrom the position thereof illustrated in FIG. of the drawings to theposition thereof illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings. During initialshifting of the bell crank 50 from the FIG. 4 position to the FIG. 5position, the switch rail section 36 is shifted in a horizontal positionupwardly in an inclined direction while the corresponding pin 66 ridesupwardly through the straight lower portion of the associated slot M andthe rail section 38 is swung from the position thereof illustrated inFIG. 4 in a slightly downward direction toward the notch or window 34while the rail section 38 is maintained in a horizontal position.Thereafter, continued pivotal movement of the bell crank or walking beam50 toward the position thereof illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawingsresults in the switch rail section 36 being swung upwardly and outwardlytoward the outside of the rail 12 while being maintained in a horizontalposition while the switch rail section 38 is swung into positionvertically registered with and disposed above the bottom of the notch 34and thereafter lowered straight downwardly in an inclined directiontoward seated engagement in the notch or window 341. It may beappreciated that the free swinging ends of the rail sections 36 and 38may be cut square and yet disposed in surface-to-surface contactingengagement with the opposing edge of the rail element 30 defining thenotch or window 34 when in the closed operative position. Further, allswinging movement of the rail sections 36 and 38 toward the operativepositions thereof is terminated prior to the free ends of the railsections 36 and 38 being lowered downwardly along a straight path in aninclined direction to be received between the tabs or abutments 70.

The switch rail sections 36 and 38 therefore actuated from below and thesupport sleeves 26 and 32 may be spaced close together and the radius ofcurvature of the rail 14 may be maintained at a minimum to enable theshortest possible rail sections 36 and 38 to be utilized. By utilizingshorter rail sections the unsupported length of the rail sections ismaintained at a minimum when the rail sections are in their operativepositions, a guiding action on the free ends of the rail sections 36 and38 is more precise and the weight of the rail sections 36 and 38 may bemaintained at a minimum. Further, inasmuch as the rail sections 36 and38 are both lowered straight downwardly in horizontal positions alonginclined paths toward their final lowered operative positions, the freeends of the rail sections 36 and 38 may be more closely mated with thesurfaces of the rail element 30 defining the closed end of the notch orwindow 34.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new isas follows:

1. A switch assembly for an overhead track of the type including agenerally horizontal main track rail and a generally horizontal branchtrack rail, said branch track rail including an end portion disposed atan angle relative to and terminating a spaced distance from said mainrail, said main rail having an upwardly opening elongated longitudinallyextending notch formed therein, and a pair of track rail sections, meanssupporting said sections relative to said rails for shifting betweenoperative and inoperative positions, one of said sections beingpositioned in and extending along said notch when in the operativeposition and the other section having one end thereof positioned in oneend of said notch aligned with the adjacent unnotched portion of saidmain rail and the other end aligned with and forming a continuation ofsaid end portion of said branch track rail when said other section is inits operative position, said means for shifting said rail sectionsincluding means pivotally supporting one pair of end portions of saidtrack rail sections from the corresponding main and branch rails forangular displacement relative thereto about upstanding axes and shiftingof said rail sections along said axes with the rail sections beingshifted downwardly and upwardly, respectively, along said axes as saidrail sections are swung between the operative and inoperative positionsthereof.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means for shifting said railsections includes means interconnecting said rail sections for inverseshifting between said operative and inoperative positions.

3. The combination of claim 11 wherein the upper ends of said axes areinclined away from a vertical plane containing said one end of saidnotch and disposed transverse to said main track rail.

4. A switch assembly for an overhead track of the type including agenerally horizontal main track rail and a generally horizontal branchtrack rail, said branch track rail including an end portion disposed atan angle relative to and terminating a spaced distance from said mainrail, said main rail having an upwardly opening elongated longitudinallyextending notch formed therein, and a pair of track rail sections, meanssupporting said sections relative to said rails for shifting betweenoperative and inoperative positions, one of said sections beingpositioned in and extending along said notch when in the operativeposition and the other section having one end thereof positioned in oneend of said notch aligned with the adjacent un-notched portion of saidmain rail and the other end aligned with and forming a continuation ofsaid end portion of said branch track rail when said other section is inits operative position, said means for shifting said rail sectionsincluding means for elevating said sections relative to said railsduring initial shifting from their operative positions toward saidinoperative positions and thereafter angularly displacing said sectionsabout upstanding axes disposed adjacent the ends of the sections remotefrom said one end of said notch and swinging said sections about saidaxes during initial shifting from their inoperative positions toward theoperative positions thereof and thereafter loweringsaid sections intotheir operative positions, each of said track rails including anupstanding sleeve, each of said rail sections including a dependingshank portion rotatably and slidably disposed in the correspondingsleeve.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said sleeves include elongatedguide slots extending longitudinally thereof and having generallystraight lower ends and upper ends curving toward the horizontal, saidshank portions including generally radially outwardly projectingfollowers guidingly shiftable through said slots.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said means for shifting said railsections includes means interconnecting said rail sections for inverseshifting between said operative and inoperative positions.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein the last mentioned means includesan elevated oscillatable walking beam, and upstanding elongatedconnecting links secured at their upper ends to opposite ends of saidwalking beam and at their lower ends to said shank portions.

8. The combination of claim '7 including over center weight meansoperatively to yieldingly retain said walking beam in its limitpositions of oscillation.

9. A switch assembly for an overhead track of the type including agenerally horizontal main track rail and a generally horizontal branchtrack rail, said branch track rail including an end portion disposed atan angle relative to and terminating a spaced distance from said mainrail, said main rail having an upwardly opening elongated longitudinallyextending notch formed therein, and a pair of track rail sections, meanssupporting said sections relative to said rails for shifting betweenoperative and inoperative positions, one of said sections beingpositioned in and extending along said notch when in the operativeposition and the other section having one end thereof positioned in oneend of said notch aligned with the adjacent un-notched portion of saidmain rail and the other end aligned with and forming a continuation ofsaid end portion of said branch track rail when said other section is inits operative position, said means for shifting said rail sectionsincluding means for elevating said sections relative to said railsduring initial shifting from their operative positions toward saidinoperative positions and thereafter angularly displacing said sectionsabout upstanding axes disposed adjacent the ends of the sections remotefrom said one end of said notch and swinging said sections about saidaxes during initial shifting from their inoperative positions toward theoperative positions thereof and thereafter lowering said sections intotheir operative positions, said means for shifting said rail sectionsincluding means interconnecting said rail sections for inverse shiftingbetween said operative and inoperative positions, each of said trackrails including an upstanding sleeve, each of said rail sectionsincluding a depending shank portion rotatably and slidably disposed inthe corresponding sleeve.

10. The combination of claim 1 wherein said sleeves include elongatedguide slots extending longitudinally thereof and having generallystraight lower ends and upper ends curving toward the horizontal, saidshank portions including generally radially outwardly projectingfollowers guidingly shiftable through said slots.

1. A switch assembly for an overhead track of the type including agenerally horizontal main track rail and a generally horizontal branchtrack rail, said branch track rail including an end portion disposed atan angle relative to and terminating a spaced distance from said mainrail, said main rail having an upwardly opening elongated longitudinallyextending notch formed therein, and a pair of track rail sections, meanssupporting said sections relative to said rails for shifting betweenoperative and inoperative positions, one of said sections beingpositioned in and extending along said notch when in the operativeposition and the other section having one end thereof positioned in oneend of said notch aligned with the adjacent unnotched portion of saidmain rail and the other end aligned with and forming a continuation ofsaid end portion of said branch track rail when said other section is inits operative position, said means for shifting said rail sectionsincluding means pivotally supporting one pair of end portions of saidtrack rail sections from the corresponding main and branch rails forangular displacement relative thereto about upstanding axes and shiftingof said rail sections along said axes with the rail sections beingshifted downwardly and upwardly, respectively, along said axes as saidrail sections are swung between the operative and inoperative positionsthereof.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means for shiftingsaid rail sections includes means interconnecting said rail sections forinverse shifting between said operative and inoperative positions. 3.The combination of claim 1 wherein the upper ends of said axes areinclined away from a vertical plane containing said one end of saidnotch and disposed transverse to said main track rail.
 4. A switchassembly for an overhead track of the type including a generallyhorizontal main track rail and a generally horizontal branch track rail,said branch track rail including an end portion disposed at an anglerelative to and terminating a spaced distance from said main rail, saidmain rail having an upwardly opening elongated longitudinally Extendingnotch formed therein, and a pair of track rail sections, meanssupporting said sections relative to said rails for shifting betweenoperative and inoperative positions, one of said sections beingpositioned in and extending along said notch when in the operativeposition and the other section having one end thereof positioned in oneend of said notch aligned with the adjacent un-notched portion of saidmain rail and the other end aligned with and forming a continuation ofsaid end portion of said branch track rail when said other section is inits operative position, said means for shifting said rail sectionsincluding means for elevating said sections relative to said railsduring initial shifting from their operative positions toward saidinoperative positions and thereafter angularly displacing said sectionsabout upstanding axes disposed adjacent the ends of the sections remotefrom said one end of said notch and swinging said sections about saidaxes during initial shifting from their inoperative positions toward theoperative positions thereof and thereafter lowering said sections intotheir operative positions, each of said track rails including anupstanding sleeve, each of said rail sections including a dependingshank portion rotatably and slidably disposed in the correspondingsleeve.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said sleeves includeelongated guide slots extending longitudinally thereof and havinggenerally straight lower ends and upper ends curving toward thehorizontal, said shank portions including generally radially outwardlyprojecting followers guidingly shiftable through said slots.
 6. Thecombination of claim 5 wherein said means for shifting said railsections includes means interconnecting said rail sections for inverseshifting between said operative and inoperative positions.
 7. Thecombination of claim 6 wherein the last mentioned means includes anelevated oscillatable walking beam, and upstanding elongated connectinglinks secured at their upper ends to opposite ends of said walking beamand at their lower ends to said shank portions.
 8. The combination ofclaim 7 including over center weight means operatively to yieldinglyretain said walking beam in its limit positions of oscillation.
 9. Aswitch assembly for an overhead track of the type including a generallyhorizontal main track rail and a generally horizontal branch track rail,said branch track rail including an end portion disposed at an anglerelative to and terminating a spaced distance from said main rail, saidmain rail having an upwardly opening elongated longitudinally extendingnotch formed therein, and a pair of track rail sections, meanssupporting said sections relative to said rails for shifting betweenoperative and inoperative positions, one of said sections beingpositioned in and extending along said notch when in the operativeposition and the other section having one end thereof positioned in oneend of said notch aligned with the adjacent un-notched portion of saidmain rail and the other end aligned with and forming a continuation ofsaid end portion of said branch track rail when said other section is inits operative position, said means for shifting said rail sectionsincluding means for elevating said sections relative to said railsduring initial shifting from their operative positions toward saidinoperative positions and thereafter angularly displacing said sectionsabout upstanding axes disposed adjacent the ends of the sections remotefrom said one end of said notch and swinging said sections about saidaxes during initial shifting from their inoperative positions toward theoperative positions thereof and thereafter lowering said sections intotheir operative positions, said means for shifting said rail sectionsincluding means interconnecting said rail sections for inverse shiftingbetween said operative and inoperative positions, each of said trackrails including an upstanding sleeve, each of said rail sectionsincluding a depending shank Portion rotatably and slidably disposed inthe corresponding sleeve.
 10. The combination of claim 1 wherein saidsleeves include elongated guide slots extending longitudinally thereofand having generally straight lower ends and upper ends curving towardthe horizontal, said shank portions including generally radiallyoutwardly projecting followers guidingly shiftable through said slots.